Ideas for a cool techie/spare time project

azibux1 · 8 Jan 2017 at 16:54

Hades said:
Any way of getting it hooked up to Amazon's Echo so you can tell it what to display? I have no idea if that's feasible at all but if the API's exist then it would be interesting.

Not quite sure, don't have an Echo either

On a similar note, this guy has it done quite cool (not sure why his 'date' doesn't show correctly, it's a bit dim) but he can control things like his Hue lights with voice from it

https://docs.smart-mirror.io/

Looks pretty cool!

Simian · 8 Jan 2017 at 17:02

As above, how about a Nixie Clock - http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php

Or even a Stirling Motor - http://www.en.boehm-stirling.com/engines.html

soundb0y · 8 Jan 2017 at 17:05

I always thought the homemade smart mirrors were pretty cool.

Rroff · 8 Jan 2017 at 17:10

soundb0y said:
I always thought the homemade smart mirrors were pretty cool.

Cool but in reality not sure how much use it would get. Been considering it myself now and again but I'd want full touch capability.

Tefal · 8 Jan 2017 at 17:16

Automate something like a pitted plant

Aedus · 8 Jan 2017 at 18:48

Make a hand held console with a raspberry pi and an emulator.

http://imgur.com/a/skEM4

Arsonist · 8 Jan 2017 at 19:23

Build a set of LED illuminated skis or a snowboard.

Orionaut · 8 Jan 2017 at 19:54

How about something more hardware.

Tesla Coil

Farnsworth Fusor

(If you get some heavy water and some old BT trim-phones, you might actually be able to kill yourself with it!

)

Or maybe a Wilmshurst machine

almoststew1990 · 8 Jan 2017 at 20:26

Have a look at the project section of OCUK- you'll get an idea for building a PC case or something!

You could get an imac G3 (I think? The CRT egg shaped one anyway) and put a flat panel screen and a Watercooled APU in there?

soundb0y · 8 Jan 2017 at 21:55

Rroff said:
Cool but in reality not sure how much use it would get. Been considering it myself now and again but I'd want full touch capability.

Yeah know what you mean but in terms of a project it kinda has it all, diy, techy, bit of programming and doesn't look too complicated. Could put a camera in it and link it to some smart scales, could be good if you're into the gym.

Begbie · 8 Jan 2017 at 22:03

Pi Zero inside an old gameboy?

Sega Mega Dave · 8 Jan 2017 at 22:06

almoststew1990 said:
Have a look at the project section of OCUK- you'll get an idea for building a PC case or something!

You could get an imac G3 (I think? The CRT egg shaped one anyway) and put a flat panel screen and a Watercooled APU in there?

My old boss turned one of these into a fish tank.

azibux1 · 9 Jan 2017 at 07:50

Thanks for ideas all

Keep 'em coming

Leaning towards smart mirror still at the moment if I'm honest. Just something simple like having the weather and date on it so it doubles up as a clock

Only thing I'm not sure on is making it look 'nice' enough, just plain nice wood doesn't really go with the theme of the house. Will do some research

wnb · 9 Jan 2017 at 13:10

That mirror looks cool but one draw back would be the power requirements. I'm assuming the the Pi will me minimal but would the monitor be always on?

nst68 · 9 Jan 2017 at 14:07

Simian said:
As above, how about a Nixie Clock - http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php

Or even a Stirling Motor - http://www.en.boehm-stirling.com/engines.html

How much soldering experience do you need to build a Nixie clock?

MookJong · 9 Jan 2017 at 15:06

I'm looking at building a miniature digital pinball machine at the moment. I already have an mini arcade machine that I built in 2013. It took me a year to build that and I drove my wife mad.

If I make a pinball machine I will have to have my **** together this time as the dining room was a workshop for months last time lol.

I'm thinking cheap android tablet for the screen and then some physical buttons connected to something to Bluetooth the flipper signal. Then the big task is the woodwork making a nice housing.

TommyV · 9 Jan 2017 at 15:18

Thanks for making this thread OP, have been thinking the same myself the last few days and had no idea what would be a fun thing to get into.

Rasberry PI it is

gjrc · 9 Jan 2017 at 15:45

Simian said:
Or even a Stirling Motor - http://www.en.boehm-stirling.com/engines.html

they look like fun, but it seems to be very expensive lego and a bit easy!! 3 hour assembly for €500?

agnes · 9 Jan 2017 at 16:34

DIY racer quad. Buy a hubsan X4 to start with, then buy a pair of FPV googles (cheap box should be fun) and a tiny whoop. If by that point you're still interested, build your own.

It's taken me 8 months to barely get to grips on all the options and parts out there. And as a techy, I love it. So many variations. No DIY quad is the same.

Psypher5 · 9 Jan 2017 at 17:04

I'd love to make a smart mirror!